Melbourne's train network is about to get a massive shake-up when the Metro Tunnel Big Switch adds over 1,000 weekly services on 1 February.
The Victorian government has locked in the new timetable that’ll fully integrate the Metro Tunnel into the city’s rail network, changing how roughly half of Melbourne’s commuters get around. Passengers can already check how their journeys will change and where they’ll need to swap trains once the new services kick in on 1 February.
Big Switch will implement thousands of individual timetable changes at once, including the first wave of 260 new bus timetables designed to connect better with Metro Tunnel services. All trains on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will switch to running exclusively through the new tunnel, with 1,000 extra weekly services added to these lines as the start of a turn-up-and-go network.
Metro Tunnel Big Switch
- When: Sunday 1 February
- Where: Across Melbourne’s train network
- More info here
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
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During peak times, trains will roll into each Metro Tunnel station up to every three minutes. Between Watergardens and Dandenong stations, trains will run at least every 10 minutes in both directions from 6am to 9pm through the tunnel; proper turn-up-and-go frequency that Melbourne’s been crying out for.
Frankston line services are also returning to the City Loop on Big Switch day, giving thousands of passengers on one of Melbourne’s busiest lines better access to the CBD. Werribee and Williamstown lines will temporarily run directly to Flinders Street before connecting with the Sandringham line later in the year to form a new cross-city service.
Regional passengers aren’t missing out either. Big Switch brings 18 additional services on the Traralgon line, 10 new services along the Seymour line and four new services on the Echuca line, improving access to the five new Metro Tunnel stations for people travelling from outside Melbourne.
This is just the beginning of the frequency boost. More services will be added across the network from mid-year, including on the Werribee, Sandringham, Craigieburn and Upfield lines. Metro Tunnel has already proven popular since opening in November, with over 500,000 passengers visiting the new stations and trains clocking up more than 64,000 kilometres through the tunnel.
Big Switch represents the biggest change to Melbourne’s train network in 40 years. Passengers should check the new Metro Tunnel timetable well before 1 February to understand how their regular journeys will be affected and where they might need to change their routine or interchange locations.
For more information, head here.
